State Dept. slams Bolton for claiming Clinton faked illness

12/18/12 3:39 PM EST

The State Dept. on Tuesday blasted Fox News contributor John Bolton for his “wild speculation based on no information” in claiming that Secretary of State Hillary Clinton faked her illness to get out of testifying on Benghazi.

On Monday night, former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Bolton told Fox News’ Greta Van Susteren he thought Clinton becoming sick, fainting and subsequently suffering a concussion was a so-called “diplomatic illness.”

“You know, every foreign service officer in every foreign ministry in the world knows the phrase I am about to use — when you don't want to go to a meeting or conference or an event, you have a 'diplomatic illness,'” he said. “And this is a 'diplomatic illness' to beat the band. I mean, I certainly hope it’s nothing serious. But this was revealed in a way that I think was not transparent and I think there is an obligation here.”

State Dept. spokesperson Victoria Nuland told reporters at Tuesday’s press briefing that Bolton’s suggestion that Clinton is faking her illness is “completely untrue.”